Decision of Character
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eṉaittiṭpa meytiyak kaṇṇum viṉaittiṭpam / vēṇṭārai vēṇṭā tulaku.
“The world desires not men of every power possessed, / Who power in act desire not,- crown of all the rest.”
“Behold the men that have not the ambition to do great deeds: the world will not care for them whatever their other virtues may be.”
Even when someone possesses every other strength, the discerning do not esteem for high responsibility one who rejects firmness in action.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
வினைத்திட்பம் வேண்டாரை= வினைத்திட்பத்தை இது நமக்குச் சிறந்தது என்று கொள்ளாத அமைச்சரை; எனைத் திட்பம் எய்தியக் கண்ணும்= ஒழிந்த திட்பங்கள் எல்லாம் உடையராய இடத்தும்; வேண்டாது உலகு= நன்கு மதியார் உயர்ந்தோர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Whatever other strengths or talents a person may possess, the world will never respect those who lack steadfast resoluteness in action.